Electrical connector



Filed Feb. 7, 1961 FIG.6.

FIG.4. FIG.5.

36 22/ k I F INVENT OR v 3 G F G m F & 7a w w *3 4.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,149,264 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Fred F. Richards, Dallas, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc., Dallas, Tern, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 87,590 1 Claim. (Cl. 317-99) This invention relates to electrical connection apparatus, more particularly to mounting or installation devices for attaching small nodules to a chassis or printed circuit board.

In the past various electrical components have been customarily attached to the chassis in a manner that they may not be removed without the use of a soldering iron. Furthermore it has often been found that the space required to facilitate connection is often more than the nodule itself.

It is an object of this invention to overcome these aforementioned deficiencies and to provide a new and novel method and apparatus for attaching nodules to a chassis.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method of attaching nodules to the chassis which will permit rapid disconnection and removal without resorting to the need of a soldering iron.

It is another'object of the invention to provide a connector which not only serves as an electrical connection, but also acts as a mechanical means of attachment.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device for packaging electronic components in a solid block having a high parts density.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device wherein the electrical components may be rapidly attached and detached to the printed circuit, or other type of circuitry system, in electrical connecting relation and to provide a device which will be small and compact and of simplified construction so that it may be economically produced or manufactured.

It is another object to provide an improved electrical and mechanical connection system.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunc tion with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the nodule connection device, disclosing the electrical component housing, and the receptacle for receiving the nodules depending from the housing.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the receptacle, with portions broken away to reveal the interior construction.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the housing and receptacle, with the housing elevated for downward insertion of the nodules into the receptacle;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the housing and receptacle, after the housing nodules have been downwardly inserted into the receptacle.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the housing and receptacle, after the housing and nodules have been slid forward and are fully attached to the clips in the housing.

Briefly stated, the invention is an electrical device for packaging and detachably connecting components in a dense relatively small area, which device comprises a housing containing the electrical components and a re- 3,149,264 Patented Sept. 15, 1964 movable receptacle which provides a detachable electrical connection to the components in the housing.

The invention further includes a plurality of nodules mounted to the housing and electrically connected to the electrical components therein, with the lower ends of the nodules projecting downward into the receptacle via slots along the top of the receptacle, and a plurality of metal clips mounted in the receptacle for receiving the nodules and slidably retaining the nodules within the receptacle.

The metal clips provide an electrical contact connection with the nodules, and the nodules are slidably and releasably retained by the clips by being inserted between the fingers of the clips. The invention also includes metal tongues at the lower ends of the clips which project through the bottom of the receptacle and which may be permanently attached with respect to a printed circuit board or metal chassis by providing a soldered electrical connection from the tongue to the printed circuit, or terminals.

With further and more detailed reference to the drawings, in FIGURE 1, the overall construction of the invention is best illustrated, disclosing the box-like electrical component housing 20 for housing various electrical components, such as resistors, condensers, etc. Beneath the housing 20, is a rectangular receptacle or base 21, the receptacle 21, is provided with a plurality of elongated parallel slots 22 on its top cover plate 34 for receiving the correspondingly aligned rod-like nodules 25, projecting from the base 51 of the housing.

In FIG. 6, the details of the receptacle 21 for receiving the rods 26 of the nodules 25, is shown in an enlarged scale. The receptacle is made of phenolic resin and is provided with a rectangular base portion 27, with a plurality of elongated channels 28, 29, 30, which extend parallel to one another along the base member. An upright wall member 31, formed integrally with the base portion 27, surrounds the base portion on its four sides, with the upper edge of the Wall member forming a ridge 32 projecting above the top surface 33 of the base 27.

A rectangular cover plate 34, is provided to rest on top of the rectangular base 27, and to fit within the upper ridge 32 in snug relationship. Three rows of elongated slots 22, are provided in the cover plate to coincide with the three elongated channels 28, 29 and 30 in the receptacle.

Within each channel are a plurality of spaced blocks 35 formed integrally with the base member and disposed on opposite sides of the channel. The blocks are disposed in a row extending longitudinally along the length of the channel, on each side thereof, with a plurality of lateral spaces or separations 36 therebetween.

A central longitudinal floor or passageway 37 is formed centrally along the length of the channel, by the oppositely disposed blocks, and the central passageway 37, communicates with the lateral spaces 36, between each of the blocks. A plurality of slots 38 originate in each central passage 37, and extend perpendicularly through the base member 27, to the bottom of the receptacle. The slots 38, are each aligned in a parallel plane with the lateral spaces 36, between each of the blocks.

A plurality of metal electrical clips 39 are slidably mounted into the receptacle and retained therein by the cover plate 34.

The electrical clips 39 include a flat central leg or tongue portion 40, and laterally and oppositely disposed upper arm portions 41 and 42, which form a generally T-shaped conformation within a lateral plane. Extending rearwardly from the upper edges of the arms til and 42 of the clip is an integrally formed flange 43, disposed perpendicularly to legs and arms of the clip.

The outer free end of the flange 43 is provided with integrally connected bifurcated forks or parallel fingers 44 and 45, which form a central nodule receiving slot 46. The slot 46 extends forwardly centrally along the flange toward the arms of the clip.

The electrical clips 39 are slidably mounted into the receptacle by projecting the central leg or tongue 4h into the perpendicular slots 38 located in base member 27, along the central passageway 37 of the three channels. The tongue portion 40 is projected downwardly into the slot 38 until the tongues project through the bottom of the base.

As the tongue of the clip is projected downwardly into the slot 38, the arms 41 and 42 of the clip are simultaneously projected into the oppositely disposed lateral spaces 36 and 36' between each block. Thus, when the clips have been fully mounted in the base of the receptacle, the arms will be fully inserted into the spaces 36, and the tongue will be projecting a substantial distance downwardly from the base member of the receptacle. The flange .3 of the clip, on the other hand, will be elevated or raised above the floor of the central passageway, and will be projected rearwardly along the central passageway.

The electrical clips may be formed from various metals, such as steel, copper and others, which offer a considerable amount of resilience and excellent electrical conductive characteristics.

Each of the nodules 25 comprise a hollow cylindrical socket 4'7 at the upper end, having a center bore 48, and a reduced rod 26, extending downwardly from the socket, with a slightly enlarged spherical tip 49, at the remote end of the rod.

Each of the nodules 25 are mounted in cylindrical apertures 54), in the floor 511, of the electrical component housing 20, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6, with the lower end 52 of the socket press fitted into the apertures Stl so as to be securely fixed to the floor 511 of the housing. The nodules, when mounted, project through the floor of the housing a substantial distance as illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6.

The electrical component housing Ztl comprises the floor member 51, and the side walls 5 Within the housing, are mounted the electrical components 58, which may be, for example, such customary components as resistors, capacitors, etc. These electrical components, such as just previously mentioned are generally elongated in shape, and because of their configuration, it is a feature of this invention to mount these components upright in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 and close together. The lower remote end 5% of these components are normally or customarily provided with a wire en, as an electrical connection. In order to electrically connect the components to the nodules, the wire st) of each component is inserted into the bore 453, of the socket 47, of the nodule where it is soldered in place.

By uniformly setting each component 58 upon its end or upright as illustrated, the components may be very closely packed together, and accordingly consume a minimum amount of space.

Method of Mechanically and Electrically Attaching the Component Housing to the Receptacle 0r Base The electrical component housing is attached to the receptacle 21, by centering the housing above the receptacle, and then downwardly and simultaneously inserting the nodule rods 26, into the slots 22 adjacent forward end 61 of the slotsto the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The forward end 61, of the slots 22, may have a circular enlargement, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, to facilitate the alignment of the nodule rods with the slots.

When the nodule rods have been fully inserted as illustrated in MG. 5, the lower face 62, of the base of the housing and the upper face of the cover plate 34, will be in flush horizontal relationship to one another.

The electrical components housing 2t), is then slid forward in a direction toward the other end 63 of the slot and along a plane parallel and horizontal to the upper face of the cover plate.

The forward sliding movement of the component housing 20 moves the nodule rods in a direction parallel to theflanges 43 of the electrical clips and causes the rods to be inserted horizontally into the nodule receiving slot 45, with the spherical tips of the rods engaging the lower curved face 64 of the forks, urging them upward. The housing 24; is slid forward until the nodule rods abut the apex es formed at the end of the slot, and the spherical tips have passed slightly beyond the center of the curved face 64 of the fork members, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Since the spherical tips have passed beyond the center of the curved portion 64 of the fork members, the forked members will spring back slightly and press against the rearward edge 65 of spherical tips, and thereby act to yieldably retain the rods therein.

The mounting of the housing to the receptacle is now complete. simply performing the same operation in reverse sequence.

Since all the rods have simultaneously engaged the spring clips in the same manner, and rest in direct contact with their respective metal clip, a positive electrical connection is provided for each nodule to its respective clips.

The receptacle normally has been previously mounted directly to the printed circuit board or to the chassis of an electronic device and the tongues have previously been soldered or otherwise electrically connected to the printed circuit in fixed relation.

Thus by virtue of the detachable relationship of the component housing to the receptacle, the various electrical components may be removed, from their electrical connection to the printed circuit and mechanically disengaged without the need to melt the soldering connection to disengage the component as is customarily required.

Furthermore, since by merely movements, namely either downward and forward or rearward and upward, the housing may be either attached or detached, respectively from the receptacle, the speed by which the electrical components may be engaged or disengaged from their circuit connection is greatly accelerated.

it is apparent that there are various other features and advantages to the invention in addition to those specifically described and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that which has been specifically disclosed and described, but only as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

Electrical packaging and detachable connection device comprising a housing having a base and side walls, electrical components mounted upright relative to one another within said housing, a plurality of metal nodules mounted to the base of said housing, said nodules having a metal socket at its upper end for mounting said nodules to said base of said housing, terminal wires from said electrical components soldered to said sockets, said metal nodules each having a metal rod projecting downward beyond the base of said housing, said rods each having a spherical enlargement at their lower ends, a receptacle beneath said housing, a plurality of metal clips mounted within said receptacle, each of said clips, for detachable engagement with said rods of said nodules, said recep- The housing may be readily detached by 5 tacle having a cover over said clips, said cover having an elongated aperture above each of said clips, said clips having bifurcated spring forked portions at their upper ends with said forked portions projecting horizontally and in'vertical alignment with said elongated apertures, the center portion of each of said forked portions being curved away from said cover, whereby said rods may be vertically introduced into said slots to a position laterally adjacent said forked portions and thereafter horizontally slid between the forked portions of said clips in interlocking engagement, said center curved portions of said clips applying pressure against said spherical enlargement of said metal nodules outwardly from said cover, said receptacle having a plurality of mounting blocks spaced apart, each of said clips having a metal tongue extending into a respective space between said blocks, and said tongues being adapted for soldering to circuit connections of printed circuit boards.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,718,993 Werrnine July 2, 1929 2,127,473 Sacco Aug. 16, 1938 2,986,675 Burson May 30, 1961 

